BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common complication in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Dogs with acute intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) have similar risk factors for UTI when compared with human SCI patients and have a high perioperative prevalence of UTI. OBJECTIVES: Determine the prevalence of UTI in dogs for 3 months after surgery for thoracolumbar IVDE and identify risk factors for development of UTI. ANIMALS: Twenty-five dogs treated surgically for 26 acute disc extrusions. METHODS: Prospective study. Urinalysis and urine culture were performed perioperatively. At home, owners monitored urine with dipsticks every 48 hours for 1 month then once a week until 3 months. Dogs returned for assessment of motor function, urinalysis, and urine culture at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Presence of UTI over the 3-month period was correlated to potential risk factors. RESULTS: Ten dogs (38%) developed 12 UTIs over the 3-month period, with the majority occurring between weeks 1 and 6; 60% of the UTIs were occult. Hematuria in the absence of pyuria or UTI was a common finding in the perioperative period. Sex, breed, and ambulatory status influenced the risk of developing a UTI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: There is a high prevalence of UTIs, many of which are occult, in the 3 months after surgery for thoracolumbar IVDE. These dogs should be routinely monitored for UTI with urine culture regardless of urinalysis results.
BACKGROUND:Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common complication in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Dogs with acute intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) have similar risk factors for UTI when compared with human SCI patients and have a high perioperative prevalence of UTI. OBJECTIVES: Determine the prevalence of UTI in dogs for 3 months after surgery for thoracolumbar IVDE and identify risk factors for development of UTI. ANIMALS: Twenty-five dogs treated surgically for 26 acute disc extrusions. METHODS: Prospective study. Urinalysis and urine culture were performed perioperatively. At home, owners monitored urine with dipsticks every 48 hours for 1 month then once a week until 3 months. Dogs returned for assessment of motor function, urinalysis, and urine culture at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Presence of UTI over the 3-month period was correlated to potential risk factors. RESULTS: Ten dogs (38%) developed 12 UTIs over the 3-month period, with the majority occurring between weeks 1 and 6; 60% of the UTIs were occult. Hematuria in the absence of pyuria or UTI was a common finding in the perioperative period. Sex, breed, and ambulatory status influenced the risk of developing a UTI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: There is a high prevalence of UTIs, many of which are occult, in the 3 months after surgery for thoracolumbar IVDE. These dogs should be routinely monitored for UTI with urine culture regardless of urinalysis results.
Authors: N J Olby; S L Vaden; K Williams; E H Griffith; T Harris; C L Mariani; K R Muñana; P J Early; S R Platt; L Boozer; C Giovanella; R Longshore Journal: J Vet Intern Med Date: 2016-12-03 Impact factor: 3.333
Authors: Natasha J Olby; Sarah A Moore; Brigitte Brisson; Joe Fenn; Thomas Flegel; Gregg Kortz; Melissa Lewis; Andrea Tipold Journal: J Vet Intern Med Date: 2022-07-25 Impact factor: 3.175